INCIDENT AT BIRUBI PT BEACH – 17th MARCH 2018

At about 4:15pm two boogie boarders were in obvious trouble paddling hopelessly against the
current caught in the rip W of the flags, and were still going further out. Keith and Shane were
quick to get the IRB into the water and pulled the younger male into the boat.

The older male (the father) identified that he was good. They brought the patient in but realised
that the father was still struggling in the rip, so back they went to get him too. Both were very
thankful saying that they had underestimated the strength of the current.

All seemed good and at 5pm we closed the beach, signed off from SurfCom and packed up our
patrol equipment.

After packing up and signing off, Patrol 10 members had showers and were standing around the
bar having a well-deserved debrief about our patrol and the earlier rescues. Looking out of the
window it became obvious that multiple swimmers had got into trouble, some people were on
the water's edge in front of the rip which had strengthened with the in-coming tide.

Some surfers began waving their arms signalling for assistance. The patrol 10 team plus others
at the bar, sprang into action. Some putting swimwear back on, others just going in their casual
clothes and running to get to the boards and down to the surf.

The ATV was moved into action. Angus (Bronze club member) was quickest to the water and
immediately paddled out to the patients. Darren, Pat and Shane all entered the water on rescue
boards to back Angus up. Three patients, one 26 year old female and two males about 25 YO
were all suffering from immersion and were on boards being rescued (2 of the boards were
those of surfers who had stepped up to help).

As they were being brought in Linda brought the ATV back to the clubhouse to collect oxygen
and the defibrillator. Steve went back to the beach with her to triage the patients and
administer first aid.

Two patients were only semi-conscious and were quickly placed into the recovery position. The
first of the patients - the female was treated with oxygen and when the second patient who was
also semi-conscious (worse that the female); more oxygen was collected from the clubhouse.
The third patient was conscious and walking.

Jackie collected radios from the tower and informed Surfcom that at least 2 ambulances were
needed. Linda S manned the lookout tower. Space blankets were used. First aiders were all
gloved up and the 2 serious patients were monitored - vomiting and clearing followed by more
oxygen therapy. Linda worked with the patients and their parents to collect personal details - a
challenging task with the semi-conscious people of Non-English speaking background.

Lots of people on the beach also sprang into action to assist. Other Birubi Point SLSC personnel
who just happened to be on the beach, an off duty lifeguard, a paramedic and a doctor from the
UK who was here on holiday.

Had it not been for the action of the surfers and our lifesavers (especially our newest Bronze,
Angus, age 15) the 3 patients would have drowned.

While the team were working on the 3 patients who had just been rescued, Pat and Darren who
were still in the water on boards notice two people who had been captured by the rip which was
still growing in strength and rescued them too!

Keith waited for and directed the ambulances. Paramedics treated the patients on the beach for
about half an hour then took the 2 near-drowning patients to John Hunter Hospital for checks.

All up an exciting day with 8 rescues notched up. Steve Fogwill is absolutely proud of his Patrol
10 team - yet again.

Patrol 10 volunteers present during the out of hours rescue – Steve Fogwill (Patrol Captain), Pat,
Keith, Linda, Jacqui, Shane and Linda S. Jayden assisted with a rescue earlier during patrol.

Other Birubi Pt SLSC patrolling members who assisted: Angus, Darren and Ange (with husband
Mike).

Members of the public who assisted were local surfers, a British doctor on holiday, an off-duty
lifeguard and off-duty paramedic (who arrived after the rescues and assisted briefing the
attending paramedics).